mh_parser/vol_split/37 - Haggai/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="Hag.iii" n="iii" next="Zech" prev="Hag.ii" progress="92.47%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="Hag.iii-p0.1">H A G G A I.</h2>
<h3 id="Hag.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Hag.iii-p1" shownumber="no">In this chapter we have three sermons preached by
the prophet Haggai for the encouragement of those that are forward
to build the temple. In the first he assures the builders that the
glory of the house they were now building should, in spiritual
respects, though not in outward, exceed that of Solomon's temple,
in which he has an eye to the coming of Christ, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.1-Hab.2.9" parsed="|Hab|2|1|2|9" passage="Hab 2:1-9">ver. 1-9</scripRef>. In the second he assures them that
though their sin, in delaying to build the temple, had retarded the
prosperous progress of all their other affairs, yet now that they
had set about it in good earnest he would bless them, and give them
success, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.10-Hab.2.19" parsed="|Hab|2|10|2|19" passage="Hab 2:10-19">ver. 10-19</scripRef>. In
the third he assures Zerubbabel that, as a reward of his pious zeal
and activity herein, he should be a favourite of Heaven, and one of
the ancestors of Messiah the Prince, whose kingdom should be set up
on the ruins of all opposing powers, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.20-Hab.2.23" parsed="|Hab|2|20|2|23" passage="Hab 2:20-23">ver. 20-23</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Hag.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2" parsed="|Hag|2|0|0|0" passage="Hag 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Hag.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.1-Hag.2.9" parsed="|Hag|2|1|2|9" passage="Hag 2:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hag.iii-p1.6">
<h4 id="Hag.iii-p1.7">The Glory of the Latter
House. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p1.8">b. c.</span> 520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hag.iii-p2" shownumber="no">1 In the seventh <i>month,</i> in the one and
twentieth <i>day</i> of the month, came the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.1">Lord</span> by the prophet Haggai, saying,  
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the
residue of the people, saying,   3 Who <i>is</i> left among
you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it
now? <i>is it</i> not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
  4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.2">Lord</span>; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech,
the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.3">Lord</span>, and work: for I <i>am</i>
with you, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.4">Lord</span> of hosts:
  5 <i>According to</i> the word that I covenanted with you
when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear
ye not.   6 For thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.5">Lord</span> of hosts; Yet once, it <i>is</i> a little
while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea,
and the dry <i>land;</i>   7 And I will shake all nations, and
the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house
with glory, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.6">Lord</span> of hosts.
  8 The silver <i>is</i> mine, and the gold <i>is</i> mine,
saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.7">Lord</span> of hosts.   9
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former,
saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.8">Lord</span> of hosts: and in this
place will I give peace, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p2.9">Lord</span> of hosts.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p3" shownumber="no">Here is, I. The date of this message,
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.1" parsed="|Hag|2|1|0|0" passage="Hag 2:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. It was sent on
the twenty-first day of the seventh month, when the builders had
been about a month at work (since the twenty-fourth day of the
sixth month), and had got it in some forwardness. Note, Those that
are hearty in the service of God shall receive fresh encouragements
from him to proceed in it, as their case calls for them. Set the
wheels a going, and God will oil them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p4" shownumber="no">II. The direction of this message,
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.2" parsed="|Hag|2|2|0|0" passage="Hag 2:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. The
encouragements here are sent to the same persons to whom the
reproofs in the foregoing chapter are directed; for those that are
wounded by the convictions of the word shall be healed and bound up
by its consolations. <i>Speak to Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and the
residue of the people,</i> the very same that <i>obeyed the voice
of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.12" parsed="|Hag|1|12|0|0" passage="Hag 1:12"><i>ch.</i> i.
12</scripRef>) and whose spirits God stirred up to do so (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.14" parsed="|Hag|1|14|0|0" passage="Hag 1:14"><i>ch.</i> i. 14</scripRef>); to them are sent
these words of comfort.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p5" shownumber="no">III. The message itself, in which
observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p6" shownumber="no">1. The discouragements which those laboured
under who were employed in this work. That which was such a damp
upon them, and an alloy to their joy, when the foundation of the
temple was laid, was still a clog upon them—that they could not
build such a temple now as Solomon built, not so large, so stately,
so sumptuous, a one as that was. This fetched tears from the eyes
of many, when the dimensions of it were first laid (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.12" parsed="|Ezra|3|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:12">Ezra iii. 12</scripRef>), and still it made the
work go on heavily—that the glory of this house, <i>in
comparison</i> with that of the former, was <i>as nothing,</i>
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.3" parsed="|Hag|2|3|0|0" passage="Hag 2:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. It was now
about seventy years since Solomon's temple was destroyed (for that
was in the nineteenth year of the captivity, and this about the
nineteenth after the captivity), so that there might be some yet
alive who could remember to have seen it, and still they would be
upbraiding themselves and their brethren with the great disparity
between this house and that. One could remember the gold with which
it was overlaid, another the precious stones with which it was
garnished; one could describe the magnificence of the porch,
another of the pillars—and where are these now? This weakened the
hands of the builders; for, though our gracious God is pleased with
us if we do in sincerity as well as we can in his service, yet our
proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased with ourselves unless
we do as well as others whose abilities far exceed ours. And it is
sometimes the fault of old people to discourage the services of the
present age by crying up too much the performances and attainments
of the former age, with which others should be provoked to
emulation, but not exposed to contempt. <i>Say not thou that the
former days were better than these</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.10" parsed="|Eccl|7|10|0|0" passage="Ec 7:10">Eccl. vii. 10</scripRef>), but thank God that there is
any good in these, bad as they are.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p7" shownumber="no">2. The encouragement that is given them to
go on in the work, notwithstanding (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.4" parsed="|Hag|2|4|0|0" passage="Hag 2:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>Yet now,</i> though this
house is likely to be much inferior to the former, <i>be strong, O
Zerubbabel! and be strong, O Joshua!</i> Let not these leading men
give way to this suggestion, nor be disheartened by it, but do as
well as they can, when they cannot do so well as they would; and
let <i>all the people of the land be strong</i> too, <i>and
work;</i> and, if the leaders have but a good heart on it, it is
hoped that the followers will have the better heart. Note, Those
that work for God ought to exert themselves with vigour, and then
to encourage themselves with hope that it will end well.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p8" shownumber="no">3. The grounds of these encouragements. God
himself says to them, <i>Fear you not</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.5" parsed="|Hag|2|5|0|0" passage="Hag 2:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), and he gives good reasons for
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p9" shownumber="no">(1.) They have God with them, his Spirit
and his special presence: <i>Be strong, for I am with you, saith
the Lord of hosts,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.4" parsed="|Hag|2|4|0|0" passage="Hag 2:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. This he had said before (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.13" parsed="|Hag|1|13|0|0" passage="Hag 1:13"><i>ch.</i> i. 13</scripRef>), <i>I am with you.</i> But
we need to have these assurances repeated, that we may have strong
consolation. The presence of God with us, as the <i>Lord of
hosts,</i> is enough to silence all our fears and to help us over
all the discouragements we may meet with in the way of our duty.
The Jews had hosts against them, but they had the Lord of hosts
with them, to take their part and plead their cause. He is with
them; for, [1.] He adheres to his promise. His covenant is
inviolable, and he will be always theirs, and will appear and act
for them, <i>according to the word that he covenanted with them
when they came out of Egypt.</i> Though <i>he chastens them for
their transgressions with the rod,</i> yet he will not make his
faithfulness to fail. [2.] He dwells among them by his Spirit, the
Spirit of prophecy. When he first formed them into a people <i>he
gave his good Spirit to instruct them</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.9.20" parsed="|Neh|9|20|0|0" passage="Neh 9:20">Neh. ix. 20</scripRef>); and still the Spirit, though
often grieved and provoked to withdraw, remained among them. It was
the Spirit of God that stirred up their spirits to come out of
Babylon (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.1.5" parsed="|Ezra|1|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 1:5">Ezra i. 5</scripRef>), and now
to build the temple, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.14" parsed="|Hag|1|14|0|0" passage="Hag 1:14">Hag. i.
14</scripRef>. Note, We have reason to be encouraged as long as we
have the Spirit of God remaining among us to work upon us, for so
long we have God with us to work for us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p10" shownumber="no">(2.) They shall have the Messiah among them
shortly—<i>him that should come.</i> To him bore all the prophets
witness and this prophet particularly here, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.6-Hag.2.7" parsed="|Hag|2|6|2|7" passage="Hag 2:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>. Here is an intimation of the
time of his coming, that it should not be long ere he came: "<i>Yet
once, it is a little while,</i> and he shall come. The
Old-Testament church has but one stage more (if we may say so) to
travel; five stages were now past, from Adam to Noah, thence to
Abraham, thence to Moses, thence to Solomon's temple, thence to the
captivity, and now yet one stage more, its sixth day's journey, and
then comes the sabbatism of the Messiah's kingdom. Let the Son of
man, when he comes, find faith on the earth, and let the children
of promise continue still looking for him, for now it is but <i>a
little while</i> and he will come; <i>hold out, faith and
patience,</i> yet awhile, for <i>he that shall come will come, and
will not tarry.</i>" And, as he then said of his first appearance,
so now of his second, <i>Surely I come quickly.</i> Now concerning
his coming it is here foretold, [1.] That it shall be introduced by
a general shaking (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.6" parsed="|Hag|2|6|0|0" passage="Hag 2:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): <i>I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the
sea, and the dry land.</i> This is applied to the setting up of
Christ's kingdom in the world, to make way for which he will
<i>judge among the heathen,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.6" parsed="|Ps|110|6|0|0" passage="Ps 110:6">Ps.
cx. 6</scripRef>. God will once again do for his church as he did
when he brought them out of Egypt; he shook the heavens and earth
at Mount Sinai, with thunder, and lightnings, and earthquakes; he
shook the sea and the dry land when lanes were made through the sea
and streams fetched out of the rock. This shall be done again,
when, at the sufferings of Christ, the sun shall be darkened, the
earth shake, the rocks rend—when, at the birth of Christ, Herod
and all <i>Jerusalem are troubled</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.3" parsed="|Matt|2|3|0|0" passage="Mt 2:3">Matt. ii. 3</scripRef>), and he is <i>set for the fall and
rising again of many.</i> When his kingdom was set up it was with a
shock to the nations; the oracles were silenced, idols were
destroyed, and the powers of the kingdoms were moved and removed,
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.27" parsed="|Heb|12|27|0|0" passage="Heb 12:27">Heb. xii. 27</scripRef>. It denotes
<i>the removing of the things that are shaken.</i> Note, The
shaking of the nations is often in order to the settling of the
church and the establishing of the things that cannot be shaken.
[2.] That it shall issue in a general satisfaction. He shall come
as <i>the desire of all nations</i>—desirable to all nations, for
<i>in him shall all the families of the earth be blessed</i> with
the best of blessings—long expected and desired by the good people
in all nations, that had any intelligence from the Old-Testament
predictions concerning him. Balaam in the land of Moab had spoken
of a star that should arise out of Jacob, and Job in the land of Uz
of his living Redeemer; the concourse of devout men from all parts
at Jerusalem (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.5" parsed="|Acts|2|5|0|0" passage="Ac 2:5">Acts ii. 5</scripRef>) was
in expectation of the setting up of the Messiah's kingdom about
that time. All the nations that are brought in to Christ, and
discipled in his name, have called him, and will call him, <i>all
their salvation and all their desire.</i> This glorious title of
Christ seems to refer to Jacob's prophecy (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.10" parsed="|Gen|49|10|0|0" passage="Ge 49:10">Gen. xlix. 10</scripRef>), that <i>to him shall the
gathering of the people be.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p11" shownumber="no">(3.) The house they are now building shall
be filled with glory to such a degree that its glory shall exceed
that of Solomon's temple. The enemies of the Jews followed them
with reproach, and cast contempt upon the house they were building;
but they might very well endure that when God undertook to fill it
with glory. It is God's prerogative to fill with glory; the glory
that comes from him is satisfying, and not vain glory. Moses's
tabernacle and Solomon's temple were filled with glory when God in
a cloud took possession of them; but this house shall be filled
with glory of another nature. [1.] Let them not be concerned
because this house will not have so much silver and gold about it
as Solomon's temple had, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.8" parsed="|Hag|2|8|0|0" passage="Hag 2:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. God needs not the silver and gold to adorn his
temple, for (says he), <i>The silver is mine, and the gold is
mine.</i> All the silver and gold in the world are his; all that is
hid in the bowels of the earth (for <i>the earth is the Lord's and
the fulness thereof</i>), all that is laid up in the exchequers,
banks, and treasuries of the children of men, and all that
circulates for the maintaining of trade and commerce; it is all
<i>the Lord's.</i> Every penny bears his image as well as Cæsar's;
and therefore when gold and silver are dedicated to his honour, and
employed in his service, no addition is made to him, for it was his
before. When David and his princes offered vast sums for the
service of the house of God, they acknowledged, <i>It is all thy
own, and of thy own, Lord, have we given thee,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.29.14 Bible:1Chr.29.16" parsed="|1Chr|29|14|0|0;|1Chr|29|16|0|0" passage="1Ch 29:14,16">1 Chron. xxix. 14, 16</scripRef>. Therefore
God needs not sacrifice, for <i>every beast of the forest is
his,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.10" parsed="|Ps|50|10|0|0" passage="Ps 50:10">Ps. l. 10</scripRef>. Note,
If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honour God with them,
for they are all his own, we have but the use of them, the property
remains in him; but, if we have not silver and gold to honour him
with, we must honour him with such as we have, and he will accept
us, for he needs them not; all the <i>silver and gold</i> in the
world are his already. <i>The earth is full of his riches,</i> so
<i>is the great and wide sea also.</i> [2.] Let them be comforted
with this, that, though this temple have less gold in it, it shall
have more glory than Solomon's (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.9" parsed="|Hag|2|9|0|0" passage="Hag 2:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>The glory of this latter
house shall be greater than of the former.</i> This was never true
in respect of outward glory. This latter house was indeed in its
latter times very much beautified and enriched by Herod, and we
find the disciples admiring the stones and buildings of the temple,
how fine they were (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Mark.13.1" parsed="|Mark|13|1|0|0" passage="Mk 13:1">Mark xiii.
1</scripRef>); but it was nothing in comparison with Solomon's
temple; and, besides, the Jews own that several of the divine
glories of the first temple were wanting in this—the <i>ark,</i>
the <i>urim</i> and <i>thummim,</i> the <i>fire from heaven,</i>
and the <i>Schechinah;</i> so that we cannot conceive how the glory
of this latter house should in any thing exceed that of the former,
but in that which would indeed excel all the glories of the first
house—the presence of the Messiah in it, the Son of God, his being
presented there <i>the glory of his people Israel,</i> his
attending there at twelve years old, and afterwards his preaching
and working miracles there, and his driving the buyers and sellers
out of it. It was necessary, then, that the Messiah should come
while the second temple stood; but, that being long since
destroyed, we must conclude that our Lord Jesus is the Christ, is
<i>he that should come,</i> and we are to <i>look for no other.</i>
It was also the <i>glory of this latter house, First,</i> That,
before the coming of Christ, it was always kept free from idols and
idolatries, and was never polluted with those abominable things, as
the first temple often was (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.23.11-2Kgs.23.12" parsed="|2Kgs|23|11|23|12" passage="2Ki 23:11,12">2
Kings xxiii. 11, 12</scripRef>), and in this its glory excelled all
the glory of that. Note, The purity of the church, and the strict
adherence to divine institutions, are much more its glory than
external pomp and splendour. <i>Secondly,</i> That, after Christ,
the gospel was preached in it by the apostles, even all the words
of this life, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Acts.5.20" parsed="|Acts|5|20|0|0" passage="Ac 5:20">Acts v. 20</scripRef>. In
the temple Jesus Christ was daily preached, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Acts.5.42" parsed="|Acts|5|42|0|0" passage="Ac 5:42">Acts v. 42</scripRef>. Now the ministration of
righteousness and life by the gospel was unspeakably more glorious
than the law, which was a <i>ministration of death and
condemnation,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.9-2Cor.3.10" parsed="|2Cor|3|9|3|10" passage="2Co 3:9,10">2 Cor. iii. 9,
10</scripRef>. Note, That is the most valuable glory which arises
from our relation to Christ and our interest in him. As, where
Christ is, <i>behold a greater than Solomon is there,</i> so the
heart in which he dwells, and makes a living temple, behold it is
more glorious than Solomon's temple, and will be so to
eternity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p12" shownumber="no">(4.) They should see a comfortable end of
their present troubles, and enjoy the pleasure of a happy
settlement: <i>In this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of
hosts.</i> Note, God's presence with his people in his ordinances
secures to them all good. If God be with us, peace is with us. But
the Jews under the latter temple had so much trouble that we must
conclude this promise to have its accomplishment in that spiritual
peace which Jesus Christ has by his blood purchased for, and by his
last will and testament bequeathed to, all believers (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:John.14.27" parsed="|John|14|27|0|0" passage="Joh 14:27">John xiv. 27</scripRef>), that peace which
Christ himself preached as the prophet of peace, and gives as the
prince of peace. God will <i>give peace in this place;</i> he will
give his Son to be the peace, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.14" parsed="|Eph|2|14|0|0" passage="Eph 2:14">Eph. ii.
14</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Hag.iii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.10-Hag.2.19" parsed="|Hag|2|10|2|19" passage="Hag 2:10-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hag.iii-p12.4">
<h4 id="Hag.iii-p12.5">Evil More Communicable than Good;
Encouragement to Build the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p12.6">b.
c.</span> 520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hag.iii-p13" shownumber="no">10 In the four and twentieth <i>day</i> of the
ninth <i>month,</i> in the second year of Darius, came the word of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.1">Lord</span> by Haggai the prophet,
saying,   11 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.2">Lord</span> of hosts; Ask now the priests
<i>concerning</i> the law, saying,   12 If one bear holy flesh
in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or
pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the
priests answered and said, No.   13 Then said Haggai, If
<i>one that is</i> unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall
it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be
unclean.   14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So <i>is</i>
this people, and so <i>is</i> this nation before me, saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.3">Lord</span>; and so <i>is</i> every work of
their hands; and that which they offer there <i>is</i> unclean.
  15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward,
from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.4">Lord</span>:   16 Since those
<i>days</i> were, when <i>one</i> came to a heap of twenty
<i>measures,</i> there were <i>but</i> ten: when <i>one</i> came to
the press-fat for to draw out fifty <i>vessels</i> out of the
press, there were <i>but</i> twenty.   17 I smote you with
blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your
hands; yet ye <i>turned</i> not to me, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.5">Lord</span>.   18 Consider now from this day and
upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth <i>month,
even</i> from the day that the foundation of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p13.6">Lord</span>'s temple was laid, consider <i>it.</i>
  19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and
the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not
brought forth: from this day will I bless <i>you.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p14" shownumber="no">This sermon was preached two months after
that in the former part of the chapter. The priests and Levites
preached constantly, but the prophets preached occasionally; both
were good and needful. We have need to be taught our duty <i>in
season and out of season.</i> The people were now going on
vigorously with the building of the temple, and in hopes shortly to
have it ready for their use and to be employed in the services of
it; and now God sends them a message by his prophet, which would be
of use to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p15" shownumber="no">I. By way of conviction and caution. They
were now engaged in a very good work, but they were concerned to
see to it, not only that it was good for the matter of it, but that
it was done in a right manner, for otherwise it would not be
accepted of God. God sees there are many among them that spoil this
good work, by going about it with unsanctified hearts and hands,
and are likely to gain no advantage to themselves by it; these are
here convicted, and all are warned thereby to purify the hands they
employ in this work, for <i>to the pure</i> only <i>all things are
pure,</i> and from the pure only that comes which is pure. This
matter is here illustrated by the established rules of the
ceremonial law, in putting <i>a difference between the clean and
the unclean,</i> about which many of the appointments of the law
were conversant. Hereby it appears that a spiritual use is to be
made of the ceremonial law, and that it was intended, not only as a
divine ritual to the Jews, but for <i>instruction in
righteousness</i> to all, even to us upon whom the ends of the
world have come, to discover to us both sin and Christ, both our
disease and our remedy. Now observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p16" shownumber="no">1. What the rule of the law was. The
prophet is ordered to enquire of the priests concerning it
(<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.11" parsed="|Hag|2|11|0|0" passage="Hag 2:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); for their
<i>lips</i> should <i>keep</i> this <i>knowledge,</i> and the
people should <i>enquire the law at their mouth,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.7" parsed="|Mal|2|7|0|0" passage="Mal 2:7">Mal. ii. 7</scripRef>. Haggai himself, though a
prophet, must <i>ask the priests concerning the law.</i> His
business, as an extraordinary messenger, was to expound the
providences of God, and to give directions concerning particular
duties, as he had done, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.8-Hag.1.9" parsed="|Hag|1|8|1|9" passage="Hag 1:8,9"><i>ch.</i> i.
8, 9</scripRef>. But he would not take the priests' work out of the
hands of those who were the ordinary ministers, and whose business
it was to expound the ordinances of God, to teach the people the
meaning of them, and to give the general rules for the observance
of them. In a case of that nature, Haggai must himself consult
them. Note, God has given to his ministers diversities of gifts,
and calls them out to do diversities of services, so that they have
need one of another, should make use one of another, and be helpful
one to another. The prophet, though divinely inspired, cannot say
to the priest, <i>I have no need of thee,</i> nor can the priest
say so to the prophet. Perhaps Haggai was <i>therefore</i> ordered
to consult the priests, that out of their own mouths he might judge
both them and the people committed to their charge, and convict
them of worse than ceremonial pollution. See <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.10.10-Lev.10.11" parsed="|Lev|10|10|10|11" passage="Le 10:10,11">Lev. x. 10, 11</scripRef>. Now the rules of the law,
in the cases propounded, are, (1.) That he that has holy flesh in
his clothes cannot by the touch of his clothes communicate holiness
(<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.12" parsed="|Hag|2|12|0|0" passage="Hag 2:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>If one
bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment,</i> though the garment
is thereby so far made a devoted thing as that it is not to be put
to common use till it has first been washed in the holy place
(<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.6.27" parsed="|Lev|6|27|0|0" passage="Le 6:27">Lev. vi. 27</scripRef>), yet it shall
by no means transmit a holiness to either meat or drink, so as to
make it ever the better to those that use it. (2.) That he that is
ceremonially unclean by the touch of a dead body does by his touch
communicate that uncleanness. The law is express (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.19.22" parsed="|Num|19|22|0|0" passage="Nu 19:22">Num. xix. 22</scripRef>), <i>Whatsoever the
unclean person touches shall be unclean;</i> yet this Haggai will
have from the priests' own mouth, for concerning those things that
we find very plain in our Bibles yet it is good to have the advice
of our ministers. The sum of these two rules is that pollution is
more easily communicated than sanctification; that is (says
Grotius), There are many ways of vice, but only one of virtue, and
that a difficult one. <i>Bonum oritur ex integris; malum ex
quolibet defectu—Good implies perfection; evil commences with the
slightest defect.</i> Let not men think that living among good
people will recommend them to God if they are not good themselves,
but let them fear that touching the unclean thing will defile them,
and therefore let them keep at a distance from it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p17" shownumber="no">2. How it is here applied (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.14" parsed="|Hag|2|14|0|0" passage="Hag 2:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <i>So is this people,
and so is this nation, before me.</i> He does not call them his
people and his nation (they are unworthy to be owned by him), but
<i>this people,</i> and <i>this nation.</i> They have been thus
before God; they thought their offering sacrifices on the altar
would sanctify them, and excuse their neglect to build the temple,
and remove the curse which by that neglect they had brought upon
their common enjoyments: "No," says God, "your holy flesh and your
altar will be so far from sanctifying your meat and drink, your
wine and oil, to you, that your contempt of God's temple will bring
a pollution, not only on your common enjoyments, but even on your
sacrifices too; so that while you continued in that neglect all was
unclean to you, nay, and <i>so is this people</i> still; and so
they will be; on these terms they will still stand with me, and on
no other—that if they be profane, and sensual, and morally impure,
if they have wicked hearts, and live wicked lives, though they work
ever so hard at the temple while it is building, and though they
offer ever so many and costly sacrifices there when it is built,
yet that shall not serve to sanctify their meat and drink to them,
and to give them a comfortable use of them; nay, the impurity of
their hearts and lives shall make even that work of their hands,
and all their offerings, unclean, and an abomination to God." And
the case is the same with us. Those whose devotions are plausible,
but whose conversation is wicked, will find their devotions unable
to sanctify their enjoyments, but their wickedness prevailing to
pollute them. Note, When we are employed in any good work we should
be jealous over ourselves, lest we render it unclean by our
corruptions and mismanagements.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p18" shownumber="no">II. By way of comfort and encouragement. If
their hearts be right with God, and their eye single in his
service, they shall have the benefit of their devotion. God will
take away the judgment of famine wherewith they have been corrected
for their remissness, and will restore them great plenty. This they
are called to consider, and to observe whether God would not be to
the utmost as good as his word, and by his providence remarkably
countenance and recompense their reformation in this matter. To
make this the more signal, let them set down the day when they
began to work at the building of the temple, to raise the structure
upon the foundations that had been laid some time before. On the
twenty-fourth day of the sixth month they began to prepare
materials (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.15" parsed="|Hag|1|15|0|0" passage="Hag 1:15"><i>ch.</i> i.
15</scripRef>), and now on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month
they began to <i>lay a stone upon a stone in the temple of the
Lord;</i> let them take notice of this day, and observe, 1. How
they had gone behind-hand in their estates before this day. Let
them remember the time when there was a sensible waste and decay in
all they had, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.16" parsed="|Hag|2|16|0|0" passage="Hag 2:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>.
A man went to his garner, expecting to find <i>a heap of twenty
measures</i> of corn, so much he used to have from such a piece of
ground, or so much used to be left at that time of the year, or so
much he took it for granted there was when he fetched the last from
it, but he found it unaccountably diminished, and, when he came to
measure it, <i>there were but ten</i> measures; it had run in and
dried away in the keeping, or vermin had eaten it, or it was
stolen. In like manner he went to <i>the wine-press,</i> expecting
to draw <i>fifty vessels</i> of wine, for so much he used to have
from such a quantity of grapes, but they did not yield as usual,
for he could get <i>but twenty.</i> This agrees with what we had,
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.9" parsed="|Hag|1|9|0|0" passage="Hag 1:9"><i>ch.</i> i. 9</scripRef>, <i>You
looked for much, and it came to little.</i> Note, It is our folly
that we are apt to raise our expectation from the creature, and to
think tomorrow must needs be as this day and much more abundant,
but we are commonly disappointed, and the more we expect the more
grievous the disappointment is. In the stores and treasures of the
new covenant we need not fear being disappointed when we come by
faith to draw from them. But this was not all. God did visibly
contend with them in the weather (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.17" parsed="|Hag|2|17|0|0" passage="Hag 2:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>I smote you with
blastings,</i> winds and frosts, which made every green thing to
wither, <i>and with mildew,</i> which choked the corn when it was
knitting, <i>and with hail,</i> which battered it down and broke it
when it had grown to some maturity; thus they were disappointed
<i>in all the labour of their hands,</i> while they neglected to
lay their hand to the work of God and to labour in that. Note,
While we take no care of God's interest we cannot expect he should
take care of ours. And, when he thus walks contrary to us, he
expects that we should return to him and to our duty. But this
people either saw not the hand of God in it (imputing it to chance)
or saw not their own sin as the provoking cause of it, and
therefore turned not to him. They were a long time incorrigible and
unhumbled under these rebukes, so that God's hand was <i>stretched
out still,</i> for <i>the people turned not to him that smote
them,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.9.12-Isa.9.13" parsed="|Isa|9|12|9|13" passage="Isa 9:12,13">Isa. ix. 12,
13</scripRef>. They might easily observe that as long as they
continued in neglect of the temple work all their affairs went
backward. But, 2. Let them now observe, and they should find that
from this day forward God would bless them (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.18-Hag.2.19" parsed="|Hag|2|18|2|19" passage="Hag 2:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>): "<i>Consider now</i>
whether when you begin to change you way towards God you do not
find God changing his way towards you; from <i>this day,</i> when
you fall to work about the temple, <i>consider it,</i> I say, and
you shall find a remarkable turn given for the better to all your
affairs. <i>Is the seed yet in the barn?</i> Yes it is, and not yet
thrown into the ground. The fruit-trees do not as yet bud, <i>the
vine, and the fig-tree, and the olive-tree,</i> have not as <i>yet
brought forth,</i> so that nothing appears to promise a good
harvest or vintage next year. Nature does not promise it; but now
that you begin to apply in good earnest to your duty, the God of
nature promises it; he has said, <i>From this day I will bless
you.</i> It is the best day's work you ever did in your lives, for
hence you may date the return of your prosperity." He does not say
what they shall be, but, in general, <i>I will bless you;</i> and
those that know what are the fruits flowing from God's blessing
know they can desire no more to make them happy. "<i>I will bless
you,</i> and then you shall soon recover all your losses, shall
thrive as fast as before you went backward; for <i>the blessing of
the Lord, that maketh rich,</i> and those <i>whom he blesses are
blessed indeed.</i>" Note, When we begin to make conscience of our
duty to God we may expect his blessing; and this tree of life is so
known by its fruits that one may discern almost to a day a
remarkable turn of Providence in favour of those that return in a
way of duty; so that they and others may say that <i>from this day
they are blessed.</i> See <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.10" parsed="|Mal|3|10|0|0" passage="Mal 3:10">Mal. iii.
10</scripRef>. And <i>whoso is wise will observe these things, and
understand</i> by them <i>the lovingkindness of the Lord.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Hag.iii-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.20-Hag.2.23" parsed="|Hag|2|20|2|23" passage="Hag 2:20-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hag.iii-p18.9">
<h4 id="Hag.iii-p18.10">Encouraging Promises; A Promise to
Zerubbabel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p18.11">b. c.</span> 520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hag.iii-p19" shownumber="no">20 And again the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p19.1">Lord</span> came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth
<i>day</i> of the month, saying,   21 Speak to Zerubbabel,
governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
  22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will
destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will
overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses
and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his
brother.   23 In that day, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p19.2">Lord</span> of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel,
my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p19.3">Lord</span>, and will make thee as a signet: for I have
chosen thee, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hag.iii-p19.4">Lord</span> of
hosts.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p20" shownumber="no">After Haggai's sermon <i>ad
populum</i>—<i>to the people,</i> here follows one, the same day,
<i>ad magistratum</i>—<i>to the magistrates,</i> a word directed
particularly to <i>Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah,</i> who was a
leading active man in this good work which the people now set
about, and therefore he shall have some particular marks put upon
him (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.21" parsed="|Hag|2|21|0|0" passage="Hag 2:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>):
<i>Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah,</i> speak to him by
himself. He has thoughts in his head far above those of the common
people, as wise princes are wont to have, who move in a higher and
larger sphere than others. The people of the land are in care about
their corn-fields and vineyards; God has assured them that they
shall prosper, and we hope that will make them easy; but Zerubbabel
is concerned about the community and its interests, about the
neighbouring nations, and the revolutions of their governments, and
what will become of the few and feeble Jews in those changes and
convulsions, and how such a poor prince as he is should be able to
keep his ground and serve his country. "Go to him," says God, "and
tell him it shall be well with him and his remnant, and let that
make him easy."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p21" shownumber="no">I. Let him expect to hear of great
commotions in the nations of the earth, and let them not be a
surprise to him; behold, he is told of them before (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.21-Hag.2.22" parsed="|Hag|2|21|2|22" passage="Hag 2:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>): <i>I will shake
the heavens and the earth.</i> This he had said before (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.6-Hag.2.7" parsed="|Hag|2|6|2|7" passage="Hag 2:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>), and now says it
again to Zerubbabel; let him expect shaking times, universal
concussions. The world is like the sea, like the wheel, always in
motion, but sometimes in a special manner turbulent. But, Blessed
be God, if the earth be shaken, it is to <i>shake the wicked out of
it,</i> <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.13" parsed="|Job|38|13|0|0" passage="Job 38:13">Job xxxviii. 13</scripRef>.
In the apocalyptic visions earthquakes bode no ill to the church.
Here the heavens and the earth are shaken, that proud oppressors
may be broken and brought down: <i>I will overthrow the throne of
kingdoms.</i> The Chaldean monarchy, which had been the throne of
kingdoms a great while, was already overthrown; and the powers that
are, and are yet to come, shall in like manner be overthrown; their
day will come to fall. 1. Though they be ever so powerful, yet the
<i>strength of their kingdoms</i> shall be destroyed. They <i>trust
in chariots and horses</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.20.7" parsed="|Ps|20|7|0|0" passage="Ps 20:7">Ps. xx.
7</scripRef>), but their <i>chariots</i> shall be
<i>overthrown,</i> and <i>those that ride in them,</i> so that they
shall not be able to attack the people of God, whom they persecute,
not to escape the judgments of God, which persecute them. 2. Though
there appear none likely to be the instruments of their
destruction, yet God will bring it about, for they shall be brought
down <i>every one by the sword of his brother.</i> This reads the
doom of all the enemies of God's church, that will not repent to
give him glory; it seems likewise designed as a promise of Christ's
victory over the powers of darkness, his overthrow of Satan's
throne, that <i>throne of kingdoms,</i> the throne of the god of
this world, the taking from him all the armour wherein he trusted
and <i>dividing the spoil.</i> And all opposing <i>rule,
principality, and power,</i> shall be put down, that the
<i>kingdom</i> may be <i>delivered up to God, even the
Father.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hag.iii-p22" shownumber="no">II. Let him depend upon it that he shall be
safe under the divine protection in the midst of all these
commotions, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.23" parsed="|Hag|2|23|0|0" passage="Hag 2:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>.
Zerubbabel was active to build God a house, and therefore God makes
the same promise to him as he did to David on the like
occasion—that he would <i>build him a house,</i> and establish it,
even <i>in that day</i> when heaven and earth are shaken. This
promise refers to this good man himself and to his family. He
honoured God, and God would honour him. His successors likewise in
the government of Judah might take encouragement from it; though
their authority was very precarious as to men, yet God would
confirm it, and this would contribute to the stability of the
people over whom God had set them. But this promise has special
reference to Christ, who lineally descended from Zerubbabel, and is
the sole builder of the gospel-temple. 1. Zerubbabel is here owned
as <i>God's servant,</i> and it is an honourable mention that is
hereby made of him, as Moses and David <i>my servants.</i> When God
destroys his enemies he will prefer his servants. Our Lord Jesus is
his Father's servant in the work of redemption, but faithful as a
Son, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1" parsed="|Isa|42|1|0|0" passage="Isa 42:1">Isa. xlii. 1</scripRef>. 2. He is
owned as God's elect: <i>I have chosen thee</i> to this office; and
whom God makes choice of he will make use of. Our Lord Jesus is
chosen of God, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.4" parsed="|1Pet|2|4|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:4">1 Pet. ii. 4</scripRef>.
And he is the head of the chosen remnant; in him they are chosen.
3. It is promised that, being chosen, God will make him <i>as a
signet.</i> Jeconiah had been as the <i>signet on God's right
hand,</i> but was <i>plucked thence</i> (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.24" parsed="|Jer|22|24|0|0" passage="Jer 22:24">Jer. xxii. 24</scripRef>); and now Zerubbabel is
substituted in the room of him. He shall be near and dear to God,
precious in his sight, and honourable, and his family shall
continue till the Messiah spring out of it, who is <i>the signet on
God's right hand.</i> This intimates, (1.) The delight the Father
has in him. In him he once and again declared himself to be <i>well
pleased.</i> He is set as a <i>seal upon his heart, a seal upon his
arm,</i> is brought near unto him (<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.13" parsed="|Dan|7|13|0|0" passage="Da 7:13">Dan.
vii. 13</scripRef>), is <i>hidden in the shadow of his hand,</i>
<scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.49.2" parsed="|Isa|49|2|0|0" passage="Isa 49:2">Isa. xlix. 2</scripRef>. (2.) The
dominion the Father has entrusted him with. Princes sign their
edicts, grants, and commissions, with their signet-rings, <scripRef id="Hag.iii-p22.7" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.10" parsed="|Esth|3|10|0|0" passage="Es 3:10">Esth. iii. 10</scripRef>. Our Lord Jesus is the
signet on God's right hand, for all power is given to him and
derived from him. By him the great charter of the gospel is signed
and ratified, and it is in him that all the promises of God are yea
and amen.</p>
</div></div2>